Drop through cutting head and gathering device

ABSTRACT

A gathering and severance device for harvesting fruit wherein a basket with an elongated handle has a top portion with an overlying open frame cutter having openings to receive the fruit therethrough and severing means, and has conveying means associated therewith whereby the severed fruit is transferred to a collection area.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Alton H. Wilson.

7224 Government SL; Douglas E. Ripley, Sr., 675 Wooddale Blvd, Apt. No.87,-both of Baton Rouge, La.

70806 [21] Appl. No. 726,921 [22] Filed May 6, 1968 [45] PatentedJunel5,197l

[54] DROP THROUGH CUTTING HEAD AND GATHERING DEVICE 2 Claims, 9 DrawingFigs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1872 Hicks 5/1893 Ohman 7/1910Johnson 8/1968 Barrow r.

FORElGN PATENTS 9/1925 France Primary Examiner- Robert PeshockAttorney-Robert G. McMorrow ABSTRACT: A gathering and severance devicefor harvesting fruit wherein a basket with an elongated handle has a topportion with an overlying open frame cutter having openings to receivethe fruit therethrough and severing means, and has conveying meansassociated therewith whereby the severed fruit is transferred to acollection area.

PATENTEnJumslsn 3,584,447,

sum 1 {IF 2 INVENTORS.

ALTON H. WILSON DOUGLAS E. RIPLEY, SR.

BY M

ATTORNIz'Y ATENTEDJummn 3,584 447 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR 3.

ALTON H WILSON DOUGLAS E. RIPLEY, SR.

ATTORNEY DROP THROUGH CUTTING HEAD AND GATHERING DEVICE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Patentee Patent No. Issue date E. H. Newcomb... 55,150 May29, 1866.

E. Case 256, 818 April 25, 1882. T. C. Schultze 1,373, 531 April 5,1921.

J. A. Rich 2, 131,672 Sept. 27, 1938. R. V. Harrison..... 675, 664 April20, 1954. E. H. Warner 2,829, 814 Apr-I18, 1958.

R. Peacock 3,247,658 Aprll26,1966.

These prior devices, in the main, are limited to operation on a singleitem thus imposing a requirement for the provision of multiple apparatuswhere different fruits are to be gathered, and also, the previouslyknown devices harvest only a single item on each activation thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatuswhich provides the multiple function of severance of growing fruit,gathering of the fruit, and transfer of the fruit to a collection area.The invention moreover provides means for action on a number of articlessimultaneously where growing conditions permit, and is readily modifiedfor accommodation of fruits of different types and sizes. A primaryadvantage of the invention resides therefor in the provision of a singletool for performing all of the above functions.

Additional advantages hereof reside in the details of the particularseverance means employed in the invention. The invention, in thatconnection, readily separates growing fruit from a tree or the like witha minimized possibility of damage to the fruit during handling. Thefruit is conveyed from a catch basket associated with the severancemeans to a collection area by chute means forming a part of theinvention, and it is unnecessary for the operator to touch the fruit.This avoids contamination of the fruit as well as reducing the cost ofharvesting.

Additional objectives and advantages include the provision of apparatuswhich may be operated from a vehicle-mounted platform, and may bearranged in groups for operation in multiple growing areas. This makespossible the harvesting of fruit from a number of trees and transfer ofthe harvested fruit to a central collection area thereafter.

The invention provides apparatus of the character indicated which issimple and noncomplex in construction, adapted for manufacture at lowcost, and requires minimum training for use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of thefollowing specification when read in conjunction with the annexeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of anoperating portion of the invention with portions thereof broken away forclarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing inone portion thereof optional cutter means employed with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of thesection line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a medial, vertical cross sectional view taken substantially onthe section line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. Sis an enlarged plan view of the severance means;

FIG. 6 is a further plan view showing a modification;

FIG. 7 shows a further modified form of the invention in plan view;

FIG. 8 shows a still further modification in plan view; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a preferred environment of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference numeral 20 generallyidentifies apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention inthe drawings. The apparatus 20 is used in the harvesting of fruits suchas oranges, apples, bunched small fruits and the like, in orchards wheretrees are often arranged in groups or rows. As shown in FIG. 9, theapparatus 20 is essentially a hand held device, and the operator ispreferably positioned on a platform 22 of variable height located on aboom 24 which is extendable and retractable and is mounted on a tractor26 or other suitable prime mover. There may be two or more such boomsfor each prime mover, and the prime mover may be driven between rows offruit trees. Trailing behind or otherwise connected to the vehicle is atrailer 28 comprising a collection area for harvested fruit. In theillustrated example of the invention, the trailer has a front panel 30with hose openings 32 formed therein for a purpose appearing below.

The apparatus 20 of this invention comprises means for severance ofgrowing fruits and for transfer of the fruit from its growing locationto the trailer 28 or other collection area. In meeting these objectives,the apparatus includes a basket 34 formed of metal, plastic, or thelike. The basket includes a forward wall portion 36, rear wall 38, and abase portion 40. The base portion 40 may optionally be of the samematerial of fabrication as the remainder of the basket, or it may be ofsome nonrigid material. In the preferred form ofthe invention it is ofmetal or plastic, and includes sloping sides 42, 44- and a centralchannel 46. At the terminus of the channel 46, the rear wall 38 has anopening 48 formed therein with an outwardly extended hose coupling 50connected thereto.

A rigid frame 52 is affixed peripherally about the basket upper portionand includes an upper rim 54, defining the open top of the basket. Atthe rear wall 38 of the basket an elongated handle 58 is affixed theretoand as shown in Figure 3, the handle 58 extends into a portion 56 of therim 52. Suitable braces 59 extend from the handle to the rear wall ofthe basket.

A main component of this invention is a removable cutter 60. The cuttertakes various forms and dimensions, each of which is specially formedfor a particular type of fruit to be harvested therewith. In FIGS. 1through 5, a first form of the cutter is shown. Here it comprises theplurality of wire elements 62 affixed in a frame 63 having channel formends 65 which engage the rim 54 of the basket in the manner indicated inFigure 3. The wire elements 62 are fixed to this frame in a grid formdefining generally diamond shaped openings. The elements may also beaffixed to the rim in such manner as to form an open square pattern (62ain Figure 6). In a further modification of either of these arrangementsof the wire elements, sharpened cutting blades 64 each of V-form andhaving blades 67 on their inwardly facing surfaces may be secured to thewires at the intersections thereof in the manner best shown in FIG. 5.

Further alternatives of construction for the cutting means are shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. In the former, the open frame cutter 60b comprises aplate 66 having a plurality of circular openings 68 formed therein, thesurrounding edges 70 of which are preferably sharpened. A modificationof this is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the openings 68c have cutter notches72 adapted particularly to engage stems of certain types of fruit duringharvesting.

The prime mover 26 is driven to a fruit harvesting area and theplatforms are conveniently arranged by extension and retraction of theboom means 24. If desired, the adjustment for the boom means can be fromthe platform 22. As the operator manipulates the gathering devicethrough movement of the handle 58, the basket is positioned under thefruit to be harvested which drops through the openings therein, that is,between the wire elements or through the openings 68 and 680. The deviceis then raised and the fruits drop into the basket as the operatorslightly pushes or pulls the basket thus severing the fruit. The fruitthen gravitates into the channel 46 and through the hose nozzle 46.

Transfer of the severed fruit from the basket 34 to the collection areaor trailer 28 is by means of a flexible hose 74 connected at one end tothe coupling 50 and at its other end extending through the openings 32and the panel 30. The transfer may be by force of gravity alone, orsuitable suction means may be employed with the hose.

We claim:

Claim 1. A fruit gathering apparatus for use in the severance of fruitfrom a tree and transfer of the fruit to a collection area, theapparatus comprising:

basket means including a top rim defining an open top, and

a base;

handle means secured to the basket means and extending therefrom;

the base having outlet means therein for release of the fruit from thebasket means to the collection area;

an open frame cutter secured to the rim and having openings thereindimensioned to admit the fruit therethrough;

the open frame cutter comprising a plurality of wires elements arrangedin grid form;

the grid including a plurality ofintercept portions; and

a generally V-shaped cutter affixed to the wires at at least some of theintercept portions.

Claim 2. A fruit gathering apparatus for use in the severance of fruitfrom a tree and transfer of the fruit to a collection area, saidapparatus comprising:

basket means including a top rim defining an open top, and

a base;

handle means secured to the basket means and extending therefrom;

the base having outlet means therein for release of the fruit from thebasket means to the collection area;

an open frame cutter secured to the rim and comprising a plurality ofintersecting wires defining intercept portions and cutter means disposedat the intercept portions.

1. A fruit gathering apparatus for use in the severance of fruit from atree and transfer of the fruit to a collection area, the apparatuscomprising: basket means including a top rim defining an open top, and abase; handle means secured to the basket means and extending therefrom;the base having outlet means therein for release of the fruit from thebasket means to the collection area; an open frame cutter secured to therim and having openings therein dimensioned to admit the fruittherethrough; the open frame cutter comprising a plurality of wireselements arranged in grid form; the grid including a plurality ofintercept portions; and a generally V-shaped cutter affixed to the wiresat at least some of the intercept portions. gClaim
 2. A fruit gatheringapparatus for use in the severance of fruit from a tree and transfer ofthe fruit to a collection area, said apparatus comprising: basket meansincluding a top rim defining an open top, and a base; handle meanssecured to the basket means and extending therefrom; the base havingoutlet means therein for release of the fruit from the basket means tothe collection area; an open frame cutter secured to the rim andcomprising a plurality of intersecting wires defining intercept portionsand cutter means disposed at the intercept portions.